Hello to all fans

[Jamie]

Hey everybody. I'm just starting this forum to see exactly how many people feel exactly the same way as I do about MusicMatch Jukebox. I have been using MusicMatch for about 7 or 8 years; it's the best music organizing/playing software I've ever encountered. It's got the easiest interface I've ever used, and a lot of useful features that I've never seen in any other music playing software. Since updating my PC to Windows 7 and trying to use MusicMatch (v. 10.00.4033), I've encountered a lot of compatibility issues, not to mention a lot of issues with the program itself, due to the fact that it's fairly outdated. So, I've decided that I'd like to attempt to create a new media playing/organizing program, and I'd like the help and input of any other fans of possibly the best media solution ever. So, if anyone has any suggestions for any features from old versions to add, or new features that may be helpful as well, please let me know. I'll be watching and waiting for your input.

Thanks
Jamie

[Wolfman0259]

Hi Jamie, I recently pulled out my Nike PSA 128 Max which requires musicmatch to work. Unfortunately I am now on a new computer which is running Vista Home premium and as such it won't recognise my player at all. I must admit that I very rarely used music match and normally play music through VLC Media for tagging etc I found Db Poweramp quite good but for supertagging you do have to register and pay. The free version does work just as good though but requires more user input. Good luck with the new media player I hope it works

[fensterlips]

I'm trying to remember the feature evolution and when it became a bit overburdened.

Somewhere around 6.0 or 7.0 Lots of features but not crazy.

I'm half thinking of running a VM under Win 7 with Win2000 so I can run MMJB, but there's got to be a better choice....

[iceesmooth]

MusicMatch was absolutely the best music player I have used in my life. Like others, I used this software a for a very long time. As a matter of version 4 was installed on my old Packard Bell computer and that's how I got introduced to it. Up until 2 weeks ago, I thought I would be using MMJB forever, but when my computer died and my hard drive had a catastrophe failing (causing me to lose everything but my music...which was saved on an external hard drive), I decided it was time to upgrade. Anyways, never in my wildest dreams would I imagine a program I used so often would not be available to me in the future. The key thing I really liked about MusicMatch is that if a mp3 file had album art attached it would not copy that album art 3 times hidden within the file's music folder (like Window Media Player does), it would save it to the tag itself. I'm all for a clone of MusicMatch myself if it can operate 90% or better like the original MusicMatch.

I noticed that MusicMatch v10.00.2058 installs with no issue and even displays the splash page but never starts. Do you think there might be a way to determine what the hang up is that prevents that version from starting completely?

[corloff]

Nothing comes close to MusicMatch for its ability to organize my music collection in a number of logical and useful ways. I rue the day my old computer died and I "upgraded" to a Windows Vista machine. One thing I especially liked was MMJB's ability to display all song titles in alphabetical order, so I could quickly find any title I wanted. I also liked the "play library" function that turned my computer into the world's coolest radio station. I would happily pay for a new version of MMJB, assuming it's not TOOOO expensive. Thanks for starting this forum, Jamie!

[val]

I too would be more then interested in a new muscicmatch jukebox program. I love the old one and because I haven't switched to vista or windows 7 it still performs allo the functions I want. I think one with the same features would be more then great.

[val]

I too would be more then interested in a new muscicmatch jukebox program. I love the old one and because I haven't switched to vista or windows 7 it still performs allo the functions I want. I think one with the same features would be more then great.

[thewall]

Just joined the forum. I haven't given up on XP yet but MMJB has suddenly stopped working on both machines where I have it loaded. I just ripped a CD about a month ago and and now it doesn't work anymore. I tried removing it and reloading but it still does not run. I stopped updating a version 7.5 ... didn't care for the newer features and this version does everything I need.

I would be interested in a replacement for it. I tried once a year or so ago but found nothing to match it. If you're going through with this I would love to support the project.

[iceesmooth]

Having some time to think about it, I think the only features I really want from a Music Jukebox Program are the following:

Variable Bit Rate Recording: I loved the way that MMJB had their VBR recording set up as a percentage. I typically chose 1% at 44000Mhz which gave me great stereo sound equal to if not better than the standard 128 kbps but with a smaller file size than the constant bitrate. Depending on the quality of the CD being ripped, files were either played typically between 88 & 96 kbps and on other applications, like Windows Media Player, the bitrate playback appeared to be higher for the same file. I've tried J.River which was a total failure as for a product that's suppose to be "free" (their jukebox) they want people to fork over $10 for a MP3 encoder so I never got a chance to see how well their VBR recording works. I also tried Helium Music Manager but under the free program, VBR isn't allowed as the option is shaded out. I also tried Media Monkey and as the only one that has allowed me to record in VBR format, it's the closet one to the MusicMatch VBR parameters but achieve that you have to set the criteria. However the music tends to be a little tinny and not the quality of MMJB in the same format at the same rate. However, with MediaMonkey, I do not like the library/database set up.

Album Art: Another thing that I liked was how MMJB would store the album art within the tags of the MP3 file instead in another folder (like River Media Player and MediaMonkey) or as a hidden file within that same folder like Windows Media Player. I don't like having non-music files in my music folders because it distorts everything and gives me an inaccurate count when I go to check music files within a selected folder.

Library Format: Next to it's VBR recording ability, I feel this was MMJB's greatest feature. The music library was so simple, so easy to use. You could group music by multiple categories and in an instant change those categories without having it affect the way music is stored. I like that I could have Artist A in its own tab within the library and that it could be expanded or contracted as needed. Other programs just don't seem to get the concept of that.

Truth is, is that there's not one media player/jukebox that can do accurately what MMJB did. Most have a few or no features at all comparable to MMJB. While I'm willing to give Helium and Rivers jukeboxes a try, I am unwilling to fork for cash for something that may not work to my liking. Which is the thing that has kept me from trying those products out more than I have. VBR recording is a big deal with me. I want to test their formats before I commit to buying. If either one can compete at a near level like MMJB then I have no problem shelling about $10, $15, $20, $40 or whatever the price is for their service. The problem is that neither products does and depends on you shelling out money on blind faith just because you have access to some features...which is something I won't do. A full functioning X day trial would have worked in either situaton.

It seems the best option for me at the moment (and a rather tedious one) would be to rip all my CDs in a program like MediaMonkey, Rivers or Helium at a CBR of 320. Use MMJB to convert those files to the VBR format I want and use MMJB to manage my library. That is a lot of effort to put into managing my library and frankly it's not something I want to do. Hopefully Jamie can help us all out if it's able to create an accurate clone of MusicMatch.

Sorry if this ran too long.

[iceesmooth]

Another function I like about MMJB is the one where you're able to create track clips. This is great and I used this function heavily. It's very helpful when you get a CD and the last track includes a hidden track. I like being able to edit out the dead air (and separating) the track with the function on MMJB. Haven't seen another program with that feature. As it is, the next time I get a CD with a hidden track I'll have to record the entire track, split it up in a program like Goldwave and convert the format on another music/media player.

[gda63378]

Thank GOD somebody is at least working on this! I'm a brick when it comes to this sort of thing, but I've googled the heck out of this problem trying to find a resolution. I'm probably better off than most as my MMJ seems to work just fine except that it will not recognize any of my CD/DVD drives and hence no burning/ripping. I now have to use more tedious methods for that.

Appreciate your hard work Jamie and hope you don't hit many snags in your endeavor to create a MMJ replica. ;D

[Victor]

I was wondering how the replica is going since i havent seen u post on here for a bit think you can update us on the progress?

[talonted]

I too have been a MMJB user for many years and purchased a lifetime license. I recently upgraded to Windows 7 to find MMJB not compatible. I'd love to see a good alternative since MMJB was the best I ever used. The main features I liked were separate library and playlist, variable bit rate recording, mp3-wav conversion, tagging, burning, ripping, and printing jewel and cd images. I also used the recorder a few times to make mp3's from vinyl.

[djlipsy]

Dear Jamie,

I and many others would be happy to pay for such a project. To me, the features the old MMJB had were fine - just duplicating that would be awesome. I have Win 7 64-bit and I can't get any version of MMJB to work though I've tried all the "fixes" people have proposed online... Help!

David

[kelly]

Found out about this forum last week from a user in another forum.
Some never gave up, because of the work they did musicmatch 10 is running in windows 7 & 10